BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

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8 

& 

m  VITALITY  OF 
"MORMONISM" 

AN    A  D  D  R  E  S  S 

'BY 

JAMES  E.  TALMAGE 

OF  THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  TWELVE,  CHURCH  OF  JESUS 
CHRIST  OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS 

PUBLISHED    BY   THE    CHURCH 

THE  DESERET  NEWS 
Salt  Lake  City 

1917 

B 

£1 

The  Vitality  of  "Mormonism 

An  Address 


BY 

JAMES   E.   TALMAGE 

OF  THE  COUNCIL  OF  'THE  TWELVE,  CHURCH  OF  JESUS 


CHRIST  OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS 


PUBLISHED  BY 
THE  CHURCH 


THE   DESERET  NEWS 
Salt  Lake  City 

1917 


PREFATORY  NOTE 

The  following  pages  embody  an  address  delivered  by 
invitation  at  a  meeting  of  the  Denver  Philosophical  So- 
ciety, at  Denver,  Colorado,  December  14th,  1916,  by  Dr. 
James  E.  Talmage. 

The  address  has  already  been  printed  through  the 
daily  press  and  in  magazine  pages;  and  it  is  presented 
herewith  in  convenient  form,  suitable  for  preservation. 

The  conciseness,  clearness,  and  accuracy  with  which 
the  subject  is  treated  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  inter- 
ested and  studious  readers. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

January,  1917. 


"" 


The  Vitality  of  "Mormonism 


Why  does  "Mormonism"  persist?  Determined 
attempts  were  made  both  openly  and  by  stealth  to 
strangle  the  system  at  its  birth,  to  destroy  the  mus- 
tard seed  at  the  time  of  the  planting;  and,  as  the  fact 
of  its  survival  has  become  prominent  the  certainty  of 
its  impending  demise  has  been  announced  time  and 
again;  the  fall  of  the  umbrageous  tree,  amidst  whose 
branches  the  birds  of  search  continue  to  find  food  and 
shelter,  has  been  often  predicted. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1830,  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  was  organized  as  a  body 
corporate  at  Fayette  in  the  State  of  New  York  ;  and 
the  names  of  but  six  persons  are  of  record  as  those  of 
actual  participants.  True,  by  that  time  a  few  times 
six  had  identified  themselves  with  the  new  and  un- 
precedented movement;  but,  as  the  laws  of  the  State 
specified  six  as  the  required  number  of  i'ncorporators, 
only  that  number  took  part  in  the  legal  procedure. 
And  they,  save  one,  were  relatively  unknown  and  in 
fact  obscure. 

The  name  of  Joseph  Smith  had  already  been 
heard  beyond  his  home  district.  He  was  at  the  time  a 
subject  of  rapidly  spreading  notoriety  if  not  of  envia- 
ble fame.  The  Book  of  Mormon,  purporting  to  be  a 
record  of  the  aboriginal  peoples  of  the  Western  Con- 
tinent, particularly  an  account  of  the  dealings  of  God 
with  those  peoples,  in  short  the  Scriptures  of  what 
came  afterward  to  be  called  the  New  World,  had  al- 


4  THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM" 

ready  been  published.  It  was  in  reference  to  the  title 
page  of  this  work  that  the  appellation  "Mormon,"  first 
given  in  derision  as  a  nickname,  was  fastened  upon 
the  members  of  the  Church. 

Such  a  beginning  as  that  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  may  seem  to  afford  little 
ground  of  either  hope  or  fear  as  to  future  develop- 
ments; nevertheless,  the  newly  established  Church 
was  made  the  subject  of  assault  from  its  inception. 
What  was  there  to  cause  hostile  concern  over  the  vol- 
untary association  of  six  men  and  a  few  of  their  friends 
in  an  organization  of  openly  expressed  purpose,  and 
that  purpose  the  peaceful  promulgation  of  what  they 
verily  believed  to  be. the  uplifting  religion  of  life,  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ? 

Whatever  may  be  the  answer  to  the  query,  the 
fact  that  the  Church  met  determined  opposition,  in- 
creasingly severe  from  the  beginning,  is  abundantly 
attested  by  history.  While  active  persecutors  and 
openly  avowed  assailants  were  comparatively  few,  the 
majority  of  those  who  gave  any  attention  to  the  mat- 
ter treated  "Mormonism"  with  aggressive  disdain;  and 
contempt  in  the  affairs  of  human  endeavor  has  not  in- 
frequently proved  itself  a  more  effective  weapon  than 
physical  assault.  In  this  instance  violence  and  out- 
rage resulted. 

I  invite  your  attention  to  "The  Vitality  of  'Mor- 
monism' "  under  a  convenient  classification,  though, 
as  will  be  seen,  the  divisions  are  inter-related  and 
merge  intimately  together.  Let  us  consider: 

1.  Facts  attesting  the  vitality  and  virility  of  the 
Church. 

2.  Some  causes  thereof. 

3.  Some  of  the  results. 


THE  VITALITY  OF 

J.       ~~ 


Facts  attesting  the  Vitality  and  Virility  of  the  Church. 

Today  the  "Mormon"  Church  is  known  by  name 
at  least  throughout  the  civilized  world  as  well  as 
amongst  most  of  the  semi-cultured  peoples  in  the  re- 
moter parts  of  the"  earth  and  on  the  islands  of  the  sea. 
Since  1830  every  year  has  witnessed  an  increase  in 
membership  and  an  extension  of  "Mormon"  propa- 
ganda. The  six  have  increased  to  over  half  a  million 
adherents.  In  Utah  and  adjacent  States,  in  Canada 
and  Mexico,  between  seventy  and  eighty  "Stakes  of 
Zion"  have  been  established,  each  Stake  comprising 
several  Wards,  of  which  there  are  now  over  seven 
hundred  and  fifty;  and  the  greater  part  of  North 
America  outside  the  established  Stakes,  as  also  many 
foreign  countries,  are  covered  by  well  organized  Mis- 
sions, each  with  its  component  Conferences  and 
Branches. 

The  growth  of  the  Church  is  apparent  to  even  the 
poorly  informed.  But  the  Church  has  not  only  grown ; 
it  has  developed.  Between  growth  and  development 
there  is  a  difference  of  the  most  essential  kind;  and 
not  a  few  of  the  grave  mistakes  of  men,  even  in  every 
day  affairs, — in  business,  in  politics,  in  statesmanship 
— are  traceable  to  our  confusing  and  confounding  the 
two.  Growth  alone  is  the  result  of  accretion,  the  ac- 
cumulation of  material,  the  amassing  of  stuff.  Devel- 
opment involves  an  extension  of  function,  a  gradation 
of  efficiency,  a  passing  from  immaturity  to  maturity,, 
from  infancy  to  manhood. 

Growth  produces  big  things,  and  not  only  things 
of  this  sort  but  men.  Between  bigness  and  greatness, 
however,  there  is  a  distinction  of  kind,  not  alone  of 
degree.  Growth  is  a  measure  of  bulk,  of  quantity;  it 
is  defined  as  "so  many"  or  "so  much."  Development 
is  a  gradation  of  quality;  its  terms  are  "so  good"  or 


O  THE  VITALITY  OF      MORMONISM 

"so  bad."  America  boasts  of  a  constantly  increasing 
host  of  big  men;  the  great  men  of  the  land  may  be 
more  easily  counted.  And  as  with  men  so  with  insti- 
tutions. 

Dead  things  may  grow,  as  witness  the  tiny  salt 
crystal  in  its  mother-brine — at  first  a  microscopic  cube, 
then  a  huge  hexahedron  limited  only  by  the  size  of  the 
container  or  other  external  conditions.  Development, 
however,  is  the  characteristic  of  life  to  which  mere 
growth  is  essentially  secondary  and  subordinate.  The 
acorn  holds  in  potential  reserve  all  the  possibilities  of 
the  stately  oak ;  within  the  tiny  egg  of  the  butterfly  lies 
the  future  caterpillar  and  the  hidden  glory  of  the  ma- 
ture imago. 

The  vital  character  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints  was  evident  from  the  first.  In 
masterly  parable,  superb  in  conception  and  applica- 
tion, the  kingdom  of  heaven  has  been  likened -unto 
leaven,  which  a  woman  took  and  hid  in  three  measures 
of  meal ;  and,  behold,  from  it  the  mass  became  leav- 
ened. I  make  bold  to  affirm  that  the  leaven  of  "Mor- 
monism"  is  leavening  the  world  and  its  theology. 

The  most  objectionable  feature  of  "Mormonism" 
today  appears  to  be  its  name.  The  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  the  system,  its  revealed  truths,  are  more  read- 
ily accepted  when  unlabeled.  Every  studious  reader 
of  recent  commentaries  on  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  of 
theological  treatises  in  general,  is  aware  of  a  surpris- 
ing progressiveness  in  modern  views  of  things  spir- 
itual, amounting  in  many  instances  to  an  abandonment 
of  what  were  once  regarded  as  the  fundamentals  of 
orthodoxy. 

In  the  new  theology  "Mormonism"  has  pioneered  the 
way.  L  admit  that  so  radical  an  assertion  calls  for  evi- 
dence ;  and  in  its  support  I  shall  ask  your  unbiased 
consideration  of  a  few  illustrative  instances.  As  the 


THE  VITALITY  OF      MORMONISM  / 

examples  to  be  cited,  however,  must  have  place  in  any 
exposition  of  the  causes  to  which  the  vitality  of  the 
"Mormon"  system  of  religion  is  to  be  ascribed,  and  as 
I  assume  that  the  actuality  of  the  growth  and  vitality 
of  "Mormonism"  will  not  be  contested,  I  pass  in  the 
interest  of  brevity  to  the  second  division. 

2.     Some  Causes  to  which  the  Vitality  of  "Mormonism" 

is  due. 

"Mormonism"  is  definite  and  incisive  in  its  claims. 
It  speaks  to  the  world  in  no  uncertain  tone.  Its  voice 
is  virile;  its  activities  are  strong.  It  presents  an  un- 
broken front,  and  is  unafraid.  Its  attitude  is  not  hos- 
tile, nevertheless  it  is  strongly  aggressive.  Its  meth- 
ods of  work  are  those  of  reason  and  persuasion,  coup- 
led with  a  fearless  affirmation  of  testimony  as  to  the 
surpassing  importance  of  its  message,  which  message 
it  labors  to  convey  to  every  nation,  kindred,  tongue 
and  people. 

"Mormonism"  lives  because  it  is  healthy,  normal 
and  undeformed.  In  general,  a  healthy  organism  is 
assured  of  life,  barring  destruction  from  external  vio- 
lence or  deprivation  of  physical  necessities ;  whereas 
one  that  is  abnormal  and  sickly  is  doomed  to  decline. 
Opposition  to  the  Church,  the  pitiless  maltreatment  to 
which  its  people  have  been  subjected,  comprising  mob- 
bings,  drivings,  spoliation,  scourgings,  assassination, 
and  murder  marked  by  every  conceivable  accompani- 
ment of  barbarity,  have  operated  to  strengthen  the 
Church,  body  and  soul.  True,  the  heat  of  persecution 
has  scorched  and  withered  a  few  of  the  sickly  plants 
such  as  had  no  depth  of  sincerity;  but  the  general 
effect  has  been  to  promote  a  fuller  growth,  and  to 
make  richer  and  more  fertile  the  Garden  of  the  Lord. 

"Mormonism"  thrives  and  is  extending  its  influ- 


8  THE  VITALITY  OF 

ence,  leavening  the  thoughts  of  men,  because  its  dis- 
tinctive doctrines  are  those  of  progression,  in  accord 
with  the  better  manifestations  of  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  best  adapted  to  meet  the  vital  needs  of  the  age. 
The  timeliness  of  its  establishment  is  significant  and 
largely  explanatory  of  its  success. 

The  seed  of  the  restored  Gospel  was  planted  by 
the  Divine  Husbandman  only  after  due  preparation  of 
the  soil.  The  place  of  planting  was  no  less  carefully 
selected  than  the  time  of  seeding.  In  the  economy  of 
God,  America,  which  is  veritably  the  land  of  Zion,  was 
aforetime  consecrated  as  the  home  of  a  free  and  in- 
dependent nation.  Only  in  such  soil  could  the  germ 
of  the  Gospel  of  true  liberty  sprout  and  thrive. 

"Mormonism"  lives  because  its  claims  are  con- 
sistent and  its  position  impregnable.  It  affirms  the 
literal  fulfilment  of  scriptural  predictions  of  a  great 
falling  away  from  the  truth,  a  cessation  of  spiritual 
gifts  and  Divine  authority,  in  short  a  world-wide  apos- 
tasy from  the  Church  established  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  the  meridian  of  time.  This  condition  of 
apostasy  is  that  pictured  by  Isaiah : 

"The  earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inhabitants 

thereof;  because    they  have    transgressed  the  laws, 

changed  the  ordinance,  broken  the  everlasting  cove- 
nant."    (Isaiah  24:5.) 

And  by  Amos,  in  his  fateful  utterance : 

"Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord  God,  that 
I  will  send  a  famine  in  the  land,  not  a  famine  of  bread, 
nor  a  thirst  for  water,  but  of  hearing  the  words  of  the 
Lord :  And  they  shall  wander  from  sea  to  sea,  and 
from  the  north  even  to  the  east,  they  shall  run  to  and 
fro  to  seek  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  shall  not  find  it." 
(Amos  8:11,  12.) 


THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM"  9 

The  certainty  of  a  general  declension  in  spiritual- 
ity among  men,  the  rise  of  false  Christs  and  false 
prophets,  of  mystic  and  deceiving  voices  from  the 
desert  and  from  secret  chambers  was  foretold  by  the 
Christ  Himself  (Matt.  24:4-5,  10,  13,  25-26).  So 
avowed  also  the  Apostles — Peter  (2  Peter  2:1-3),  and 
Paul  (Acts  20:29-30,  1  Tim.  4:1-3,  2  Tim.  4:1-4,  2 
Thess.  2:3-4),  Jude  (17,  18),  and  John  (Rev.  13:4, 
6-9). 

The  apostate  condition  of  Christendom  has  been 
recognized  and  affirmed  by  high  ecclesiastical  author- 
ity. Let  a  single  citation  suffice.  The  Church  of  Eng- 
land thus  proclaims  the  fact  of  degeneracy,  as  set  forth 
in  her  "Homily  against  Peril  of  Idolatry,"  published 
about  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century  and  retained 
to  this  day  as  an  official  declaration : 

"So  that  laity  and  clergy,  learned  and  unlearned, 
all  ages,  sects,  and  degrees  of  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren of  whole  Christendom — an  horrible  and  most 
dreadful  thing  to  think — have  been  at  once  drowned  in 
abominable  idolatry ;  of  all  other  vices  most  detested  of 
God,  and  most  damnable  to  man ;  and  that  by  the  space 
of  eight  hundred  years  and  more." 

No  less  definite  than  the  prophecy  of  apostasy  is 
the  scriptural  prediction  of  a  restoration  in  the  last 
days : 

"And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto 
them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and 
kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  Saying  with  a  loud 
voice,  Fear  God,  and  give  ,glory  to  him ;  for  the  hour 
of  his  judgment  is  come :  and  worship  him  that  made 
heaven,  and  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of 
waters."  (Rev.  14:6-7.) 


10  THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM^ 

"Mormonism"  affirms  that  the  "everlasting  Gos- 
pel" has  been  restored  to  earth  in  the  manner  speci- 
fied, that  is  by  angelic  ministration.  The  necessity  of 
a  restoration  postulates  the  prior  removal  of  the  thing 
restored ;  and  the  restoration  of  the  Gospel  is  proof  of 
the  precedent  apostasy  of  mankind.  But,  it  may  be 
asked,  had  not  we  the  Holy  Bible,  the  scriptural  re- 
pository of  the  Gospel  record?  The  letter,  yes.  But 
surely  the  Gospel  is  more  than  a  book.  The  Holy 
Bible  prescribes  administrative  ordinances  as  essential 
to  salvation — baptism  by  water  and  the  bestowal  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  by  the  authoritative  imposition  of  hands, 
the  rebirth  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  without  which, 
unless  the  Lord  Christ  spoke  to  Nicodemus  falsely,  no 
man  can  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.  Who  will  ven- 
ture to  affirm  that  a  possession  of  a  copy  of  the  Holy 
Bible,  or  even  a  letter-perfect  memorization  of  the 
contents  thereof,  can  give  to  men  the  right  to  admin- 
ister in  the  ordinances  therein  prescribed? 

The  angel  seen  by  the  Revelator  while  on  Patmos 
was  to  restore  not  the  letter  of  requirement  as  to  bap- 
tism and  other  essentials,  for  this  the  world  had;  but 
he  was  to  bring  again  to  earth  the  commission  to 
officiate  in  those  saving  ordinances,  that  is,  to  restore 
the  authority  of  the  Holy  Priesthood. 

"Mormonism"  affirms  that  on  the  15th  of  May, 
1829,  a  heavenly  messenger  descended  in  light  and 
glory,  and,  laying  his  hands  upon  Joseph  Smith  and 
his  companion  in  the  ministry,  Oliver  Cowdery,  be- 
stowed upon  them  the  Lesser  or  Aaronic  Priesthood, 
saying: 

"Upon  you  my  fellow  servants,  in  the  name  of 
Messiah,  I  confer  the  Priesthood  of  Aaron,  which  holds 
the  keys  of  the  ministering  of  angels,  and  of  the  gospel 
of  repentance,  and  of  baptism  by  immersion  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins." 


II 

The  angelic  personage  announced  himself  as 
John,  known  of  old  as  the  Baptist,  and  declared  that 
he  acted  under  instructions  from  Peter,  James,  and 
John,  who  held  the  presidency  of  the  Higher  or  Mel- 
chizedek  Priesthood  in  the  apostolic  dispensation  of 
old.  At  a  later  date  Joseph  Smith  and  his  fellow 
laborer  were  visited  by  Peter,  James,  and  John,  who 
ordained  the  two  to  the  Priesthood  after  the  order  of 
Melchizedek,  which  comprises  all  the  authority  opera- 
tive in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Whatever  criticism  may  be  offered,  exception 
taken,  or  denial  asserted  against  these  solemn  declara- 
tions, the  consistency  of  the  claims  themselves  must 
be  admitted.  Authority  to  officiate  in  the  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel  was  brought  by  angel  messengers, 
and  they  the  very  ones  in  whom  were  vested  the 
powers  of  the  respective  order  of  Priesthood  in  the 
earlier  Gospel  dispensation.  This  same  strict  con- 
sistency appears  in  subsequent  manifestations.  Thus. 
Moses  appeared  in  the  Temple  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  and 
conferred  the  keys  of  the  gathering  of  the  tribes  of 
Israel  after  their  long  dispersion,  which  work  is  abun- 
dantly predicted  in  ancient  scripture  as  a  characteristic 
feature  of  the  latter  days — the  time  immediately 
precedent  to  the  glorious  advent  of  the  Son  of  Man. 
Elijah  the  prophet,  in  literal  fulfilment  of  Malachi's 
prediction  (Mai.  4:5-6)  has  brought  and  committed 
to  the  modern  prophet  the  authority  of  vicarious  labor 
in  behalf  of  the  dead,  by  which  the  hearts  of  the  de- 
parted fathers  are  turned  to  their  living  posterity,  and 
the  hearts  of  the  yet  mortal  children  drawn  to  their 
progenitors  in  the  spirit  world.  True  to  this  partic- 
ular commission,  the  restored  Church  rears  temples 
to  the  name  and  service  of  the  living  God,  and  in  those 
sacred  structures  carries  forward  vicarious  service  for 
the  redemption  of  the  uncounted  dead  who  have 


12  THE  VITALITY  OF 

passed  away  in  ignorance  as  to  the  necessity  of  com- 
pliance with  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel, 
without  which  compliance  no  man  may  see  the  king- 
dom of  God. 

Such  facts  as  those  cited  attest  the  consistency 
of  the  distinctive  claims  of  "Mormonism" ;  and  con- 
sistency goes  far  to  establish  genuineness.  "Mormon- 
ism"  would  long  since  have  gone  the  way  of  all  false 
creeds  and  systems  had  its  precepts  been  inconsistent, 
incongruous,  or  unscriptural. 

'  "Mormon"  doctrines  are  characteristically  ad- 
vanced and  progressive,  and  herein  lies  a  further  ex- 
planation of  the  virility  of  the  system.  While  in  no 
respect  at  variance  with  earlier  scriptures,  "Mormon- 
ism"  carries  principles  forwrard,  and  many  of  the  ob- 
scure passages  of  ancient  writ  are  illumined  by  the 
rays  of  modern  revelation.  As  stated,  "Mormonism" 
leads  the  way  to  higher  truths.  Now,  by  way  of  a 
few  examples  as  promised : 

(A)  The  unscriptural  and  repellent  dogma  of 
inherent  degeneracy  and  the  contaminating  effect  of 
original  sin,  by  which  every  child  is  born  vile  in  the 
sight  and  judgment  of  God,  long  cast  its  dark  shadow 
over  the  minds  of  men.  From  this  conception  sprang 
the  practise  of  infant  baptism  and  the  perverted  doc- 
trine of  assured  damnation  for  all  innocent  babes  who 
die  unbaptized.  Even  the  Catholic  church  has  mod- 
ified its  teaching  on  this  subject  and  today  permits  its 
members  to  believe  that  children  who  die  without  bap- 
tism pass  to  a  state  of  partial  happiness  and  content, 
though  forever  denied  the  supreme  blessing  of  the 
beatific  vision  of  God.  It  is  conceded,  of  course,  that 
no  dictum,  dogma,  or  doctrine  of  men  can  determine 
the  fate  of  souls,  infant  or  adult,  in  the  hereafter; 
nevertheless,  theological  teachings  have  direct  effect 
upon  the  thoughts  and  lives  of  mankind.  It  is  cheer- 


13 

ing  to  know  that  practically  all  Christendom  today 
repudiates  the  frightful  heresy  of  the  eternal  con- 
demnation of  babes  who  die  without  baptism. 

Hear  now  the  word  of  "Mormonism"  on  the  mat- 
ter and  note  the  time  of  its  enunciation.  In  1830  the 
Book  of  Mormon  was  given  to  the  world.  Therein 
we  read,  in  an  epistle  of  the  ancient  prophet  Mormon 
to  his  son  Moroni : 

"Listen  to  the  words  of  Christ,  your  Redeemer, 
your  Lord  and  your  God.  Behold,  I  came  into  the 
world  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repent- 
ance :  the  whole  need  no  physician,  but  they  that  are 
sick;  wherefore  little  children  are  whole,  for  they  are 
not  capable  of  committing  sin ;  wherefore  the  curse  of 
Adam  is  taken  from  them  in  me,  that  it  hath  no  power 
over  them ;  and  the  law  of  circumcision  is  done  away 
in  me.  And  after  this  manner  did  the  Holy  Ghost 
manifest  the  word  of  God  unto  me;  wherefore  my  be- 
loved son,  I  know  that  it  is  solemn  mockery  before 
God,  that  ye  should  baptize  little  children.  Behold  I  say 
unto  you,  That  this  thing  shall  ye  teach,  repentance  and 
baptism  unto  those  who  are  accountable  and  capable  of 
committing  sin;  yea,  teach  parents  that  they  must  re- 
pent and  be  baptized,  and  humble  themselves  as  their 
little  children,  and  they  shall  all  be  saved  with  their 
little  children.  And  their  little  children  need  no  re- 
pentance, neither  baptism.  Behold,  baptism  is  unto 
repentance  to  the  fulfilling  the  commandments  unto  the 
remission  of  sins.  But  little  children  are  alive  in 
Christ,  even  from  the  foundation  of  the  world."  (Mo- 
roni 8:8-12.) 

In  the  revelations  of  the  current  dispensation  we 
read  that  children  are  accounted  innocent  before  God 
until  they  come  to  the  age  of  understanding  and  ac- 
countability, and  that  baptism  is  required  of  all  who 
have  attained  that  condition.  Thus  we  read: 


14  THE  VITALITY  OF  ^ 

"All  those  who  humble  themselves  before  God, 
and  desire  to  be  baptized  and  come  forth  with  broken 
hearts  and  contrite  spirits,  and  witness  before  the 
church  that  they  hav,e  truly  repented  of  all  their  sins, 
and  are  willing  to  take  upon  them  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  having  a  determination  to  serve  him  to  the  end, 
and  truly  manifest  by  their  works  that  they  have  re- 
ceived of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  unto  the  remission  of 
their  sins,  shall  be  received  by  baptism  into  his  church." 
(Doctrine  and  Covenants  20:37.) 

(B)  The  one-time  general  conception  of  heaven 
and  hell  is  regarded  today  as  antiquated,  unreason- 
able, unscriptural  and  untrue.  I  speak  of  the  heaven 
and  the  hell  once  thought  of  as  the  only  places  or  con- 
ditions prepared  for  the  souls  of  men,  to  one  or  the 
other  of  which  states  every  being  that  has  or  shall 
have  tabernacled  in  the  flesh  is  to  be  consigned,  per- 
haps on  a  very  narrow  margin  of  merit  or  desert. 
True,  the  support  of  scriptural  warrant  was  lacking 
for  the  churchly  dogma;  but  many  centuries  were  re- 
quired for  the  world  to  discover  the  fact.  Paul,  writ- 
ing to  the  Corinthians  in  the  long  ago,  said: 

"There  are  also  celestial  bodies,  and  bodies  ter- 
restrial: but  the  glory  of  the  celestial  is  one,  and  the 
glory  of  the  terrestrial  is  another.  There  is  one  glory 
of  the  sun,  and  another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another 
glory  of  the  stars :  for  one  star  differeth  from  another 
star  in  glory.  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead." 
(I  Cor.  15:40-42.) 

To  this  portentous  scripture  a  very  narrow  ex- 
position was  accorded  in  the  dogmatic  exegesis  of  the 
earlier  commentaries,  and  the  dictum  of  a  heaven  and 
a  hell  was  scarcely  shaken  thereby.  Belief  in  graded 
conditions  in  the  hereafter  is  widespread  today,  and  in 


15 

this  rational  substitution  of  ennobling  truth  for  de- 
grading error,  "Mormonism"  is  again  the  world's 
teacher.  Joseph  Smith  avowed  that  in  February  1832 
he  received  a  Divine  revelation,  in  which  conditions 
in  the  hereafter  were  shown  to  be  the  direct  result  of 
the  individual  life  in  mortality,  and  by  which  the  ex- 
istence of  distinct  kingdoms  of  glory,  each  with  its 
own  numerous  gradations,  was  made  plain.  These 
are  called  in  descending  order  the  Celestial,  the  Ter- 
restrial and  the  Telestial.  Far  below  the  lowest  of 
these  is  the  state  prepared  for  the  hopelessly  unregen- 
erate,  those  who  have  sinned  against  light  and  knowl- 
edge, those  who,  having  learned  the  laws  of  righteous- 
ness and  having  received  the  testimony  of  the  Christ 
have  ruthlessly  trodden  the  priceless  pearls  into  the 
mire,  those  few  who  are  fit  companions  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels  throughout  eternity,  those  who  are 
known  by  the  awful  name  "sons  of  perdition."  Of 
them  the  revelation  last  referred  to  avers : 

"Thus  saith  the  Lord,  concerning  all  those  who 
know  my  power,  and  have  been  made  partakers  there- 
of, and  suffered  themselves,  through  the  power  of  the 
devil,  to  be  overcome,  and  to  deny  the  truth  and  defy 
my  power — They  are  they  who  are  the  sons  of  perdi- 
tion, of  whom  I  say  that  it  had  been  better  for  them 
never  to  have  been  born,  For  they  are  vessels  of  wrath, 
doomed  to  suffer  the  wrath  of  God,  with  the  devil  and 
his  angels  in  eternity;  Concerning  whom  I  have  said 
there  is  no  forgiveness  in  this  world  nor  in  the  world 
to  come,  Having  denied  the  Holy  Spirit  after  having 
received  it,  and  having  denied  the  Only  Begotten  Son 
of  the  Father — having  crucified  him  unto  themselves, 
and  put  him  to  an  open  shame.  These  are  they  who 
shall  go  away  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  with 
the  devil  and  his  angels,  And  the  only  ones  on  whom 
the  second  death  shall  have  any  power ;  Yea,  verily,  the 


16 


THE  VITALITY  OF 


only  ones  who  shall  not  be  redeemed  in  the  due  time  of 
the  Lord,  after  the  sufferings'  of  his  wrath."  (Doc- 
trine and  Covenants  76:31-38.) 

In  immeasurable  contrast  is  the  state  of  those 
who  attain  not  only  salvation  but  exaltation  in  the 
Celestial  kingdom.  We  read: 

"They  are  they  who  received  the  testimony  of 
Jesus,  and  believed  on  his  name  and  were  baptized 
after  the  manner  of  his  burial,  being  buried  in  the 
water  in  his  name,  and  this  according  to  the  command- 
ment which  he  has  given,  That  by  keeping  the  com- 
mandments they  might  be  washed  and  cleansed  from 
all  their  sins,  and  receive  the  Holy  Spirit  by  the  laying 
on  of  the  hands  of  him  who  is  ordained  and  sealed 
unto  this  power,  And  who  overcome  by  faith,  and  are 
sealed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  which  the  Father 
sher1s  forth  upon  all  those  who  are  just  and  true.  They 
are  they  who  are  the  church  of  the  First  Born.  They 
are  they  into  whose  hands  the  Father  has  given  all 
things — They  are  they  who  are  Priests  and  Kings,  who 
have  received  of  his  fullness,  arid  of  his  glory,  And  are 
Priests  of  the  Most  High,  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chizedek,  which  was  after  the  order  of  Enoch,  which 
was  after  the  order  of  the  Only  Begotten  Son ;  Where- 
fore, as  it  is  written,  they  are  Gods,  even  the  sons  of 
God — Wherefore  all  things  are  theirs,  whether  life  or 
death,  or  things  present,  or  things  to  come,  all  are 
theirs  and  they  are  Christ's  and  Christ  is  God's.  And 
they  shall  overcome  all  things ;  Wherefore  let  no  man 
glory  in  man,  but  rather  let  him  glory  in  God,  who 
shall  subdue  all  enemies  under  his  feet— ^These  shall 
dwell  in  the  presence  of  God  and  his  Christ  for  ever 
and  ever.  These  are  they  whom  he  shall  bring  with 
him,  when  he  shall  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  to 
reign  on  the  earth  over  his  people.  These  are  they 
who  shall  have  part  in  the  first  resurrection.  These 
are  they  who  shall  come  forth  in  the  resurrection  of 
the  just."  (Verses  51-65.) 


THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM"  17 

Of  those  who  attain  the  lesser  glory  of  the  Ter- 
restrial it  is  written : 

"And  again,  we  saw  the  terrestrial  world,  and  be- 
hold and  lo,  these  are  they  who  are  of  the  terrestrial, 
whose  glory  differs  from  that  of  the  church  of  the 
First  Born,  who  have  received  the  fullness  of  the 
Father,  even  as  that  of  the  moon  differs  from  the  sun 
in  the  firmament.  Behold,  these  are  they  who  died 
without  law,  And  also  they  who  are  the  spirits  of  men 
kept  in  prison,  whom  the  Son  visited,  and  preached  the 
gospel  unto  them,  that  they  might  be  judged  according 
to  men  in  the  flesh,  Who  received  not  the  testimony  of 
Jesus  in  the  flesh,  but  afterwards  received  it.  These 
are  they  who  are  honorable  men  of  the  earth,  who  were 
blinded  by  the  craftiness  of  men.  These  are  they  who 
receive  of  his  glory,  but  not  of  his  fullness.  *  *  * 
These  are  they  who  are  not  valiant  in  the  testimony  of 
Jesus;  wherefore  they  .obtain  not  the  crown  over  the 
kingdom  of  our  God."  (Verses  71-76,  79.) 

And  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Telestial : 

"And  again,  we  saw  the  glory  of  the  telestial, 
which  glory  is  that  of  the  lesser,  even  as  the  glory  of 
the  stars  differs  from  that  of  the  glory  of  the  moon  in 
the  firmament.  These  are  they  who  received  not  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  neither  the  testimony  of  Jesus.  These 
are  they  who  deny  not  the  Holy  Spirit.  These  are 
they  who  are  thrust  down  to  hell.  These  are  they  who 
shall  not  be  redeemed  from  the  devil,  until  the  last  res- 
urrection, until  the  Lord,  even  Christ  the  Lamb  shall 
have  finished  his  work.  *  *  *  And  the  glory  of 
the  telestial  is  one,  even  as  the  glory  of  the  stars  is  one, 
for  as  one  star  differs  from  another  star  in  glory,  even 
so  differs  one  from  another  in  glory  in  the  telestial 
world ;  For  these  are  they  who  are  of  Paul,  and  of 
Apollos,  and  of  Cephas.  These  are  they  who  say  they 
are  some  of  one  and  some  of  another — some  of  Christ 


18  THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM^ 

and  some  of  John,  and  some  of  Moses,  and  some  of 
Elias,  and  some  of  Esaias,  and  some  of  Isaiah,  and 
some  of  Enoch ;  But  received  not  the  gospel,  neither 
the  testimony  of  Jesus,  neither  the  prophets,  neither  the 
everlasting  covenant.  Last  of  all,  these  all  are  they 
who  will  not  be  gathered  with  the  saints,  to  be  caught 
up  unto  the  church  of  the  First  Born,  and  received  into 
the  cloud.  These  are  they  who  are  liars,  and  sorcerers, 
and  adulterers,  and  whoremongers,  and  whosoever 
loves  and  makes  a  lie.  *  *  *  These  are  they  who 
are  cast  down  to  hell  and  suffer  the  wrath  of  Almighty 
God,  until  the  fullness  of  times  when  Christ  shall  have 
subdued  all  enemies  under  his  feet,  and  shall  have  per- 
fected his  work,  *  *  *  But  behold,  and  lo,  we  saw 
the  glory  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  telestial  world,  that 
they  were  as  innumerable  as  the  stars  in  the  firmament 
,of  heaven,  or  as  the  sand  upon  the  sea  shore,  And 
heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying — these  all  shall  bow 
the  knee,  and  every  tongue  shall  confess  to  him  who 
sits  upon  the  throne  for  ever  and  ever ;  For  they  shall 
be  judged  according  to  their  works,  and  every  man 
shall  receive  according  to  his  own  works,  his  own  do- 
minion, in  the  mansions  which  are  prepared,  And  they 
shall  be  servants  of  the  Most  High,  but  where  God  and 
Christ  dwell  they  cannot  come,  worlds  without  end." 
(Verses  81-85,  98-103,  106,  109-112.) 

"Mormonism"  proclaims  the  possibility  of  eternal 
advancement  within  the  several  kingdoms  provided  in 
the  hereafter  and  teaches  that  even  repentance  is  pos- 
sible beyond  the  grave.  It  utters  solemn  warning, 
however,  against  procrastination  and  wilful  neglect 
here,  holding  that  this  life  is  strictly  a  probationary 
period  given  unto  men  for  repentance  and  valiant  ser- 
vice, and  that  to  neglect  is  to  lose  the  ability  to  repent. 
It  repudiates  what  it  regards  as  a  strained  and  irrele- 
vant exposition  of  a  certain  isolated  passage  from  the 
Preacher  of  old:  "If  the  tree  fall  toward  the  south, 


THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM"  19 

or  toward  the  north,  in  the  place  where  the  tree  falleth, 
there  it  shall  be."  (Eccles.  11:3.)  This  we  do  not 
believe  was  ever  intended  to  mean  that  as  the  man  is 
when  he  dies  so  shall  he  be  eternally;  nor  do  we  admit 
that  the  tenor  of  Holy  Writ  supports  any  such  infer- 
ence. Neglect,  wilful  procrastination,  evil  life  here 
shall  surely  be  a  handicap  to  eternal  progress ;  but 
however  far  behind  his  more  faithful  fellows  a  sinner 
may  fall,  he  shall  yet  advance  if  he  will  but  repent  and 
try.  Is  it  empty  assumption  to  say  that  such  doctrine 
as  this,  given  to  the  world  through  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon in  1830,  is  more  vital  than  the  dogmas  of  never- 
ending  torment  and  eternal  damnation? 

(C)  It  was  long  taught  that  the  body  is  a  hin- 
drance and  a  burden  to  the  spirit,  a  thing  to  be  con- 
temned and  despised.  Carried  to  its  inevitable  ex- 
treme this  belief  led  to  the  abnormalities  of  asceticism, 
monastic  isolation,  celibacy,  and  resultant  evils.  The 
spirit  of  this  age  impels  to  healthful  living,  to  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  body  and  the  conservation  of  its  God- 
given  functions,  to  the  prudent  observances  of  sanita- 
tion and  hygiene,  to  abstinence  from  intoxicants,  nar- 
cotics and  stimulants  generally.  As  early  as  February 
1833  the  Lord  gave  a  revelation  to  the  Church  touch- 
ing matters  of  hygiene  and  diet.  "The  Word  of  Wis- 
dom" it  has  been  rightly  called;  and  its  precepts  are 
now  proclaimed  by  the  teachers  of  men.  Hear  it : 

"That  inasmuch  as  any  man  drinketh  wine  or 
strong  drink  among  you,  behold  it  is  not  good,  neither 
meet  in  the  sight  of  your  Father,  only  in  assembling 
yourselves  together  to  offer  up  your  sacraments  before 
him.  And,  behold,  this  should  be  wine,  yea,  pure  wine 
of  the  grape  of  the  vine,  of  your  own  make.  And, 
again,  strong  drinks  are  not  for  the  belly,  but  for  the 
washing  of  your  bodies.  And  again,  tobacco  is  not 
for  the  body,  neither  for  the  belly,  and  is  not  good  for 


20  THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM" 

man,  but  is  an  herb  for  bruises  and  all  sick  cattle,  to  be 
used  with  judgment  and  skill.  And  again,  hot  drinks 
are  not  for  the  body  or  belly.  And  again,  verily  I  say 
unto  you,  all  wholesome  herbs  God  hath  ordained  for 
the  constitution,  nature,  and  use  of  man.  Every  herb 
in  the  season  thereof,  and  every  fruit  in  the  season 
thereof;  all  these  to  be  used  with  prudence  and  thanks- 
giving. Yea,  flesh  also  of  beasts  and  of  the  fowls  of 
the  air,  I,  the  Lord,  have  ordained  for  the  use  of  man 
with  thanksgiving;  nevertheless  they  are  to  be  used 
sparingly ;  And  it  is  pleasing  unto  me  that  they  should 
not  be  used  only  in  times  of  winter,  or  of  cold,  or 
famine.  All  grain  is  ordained  for  the  use  of  man  and 
of  beasts,  to  be  the  staff  of  life,  not  only  for  man  but 
for  the  beasts  of  the  field,  and  the  fowls  of  heaven,  and 
all  wild  animals  that  run  or  creep  on  the  earth;  And 
these  hath  God  made  for  the  use  of  man  only  in  times 
of  famine  and  excess  of  hunger.  All  grain  is  good  for 
the  food  of  man,  as  also  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  that 
which  yieldeth  fruit,  whether  in  the  ground  or  above 
the  ground.  Nevertheless,  wheat  for  man,  and  corn 
for  the  ox,  and  oats  for  the  horse,  and  rye  for  the  fowls 
and  for  swine,  and  for  all  beasts  of  the  field,  and  barley 
for  all  useful  animals,  and  for  mild  drinks,  as  also 
other  grain.  And  all  saints  who  remember  to  keep  and 
do  these  sayings,  walking  in  obedience  to  the  command- 
ments, shall  receive  health  in  their  navel,  and  marrow 
to  their  bones;  And  shall  find  wisdom  and  great  treas- 
ures of  knowledge,  even  hidden  treasures;  And  shall 
run  and  not  be  weary,  and  shall  walk  and  not  faint; 
And  I,  the  Lord,  give  unto  them  a  promise,  that  the 
destroying  angel  shall  pass  by  them,  as  the  children  of 
Israel,  and  not  slay  them.  Amen."  (Doctrine  and 
Covenants  89:5-21.) 

Hot  drinks  against  which  the  people  are  warned 
have  been  and  are  understood  to  include  tea  and 
coffee,  and  the  inhibition  was  preached  and  published 
prior  to  the  discovery  by  chemists  that  theine,  caffeine 


21 

and  kindred  alkaloids  are  of  pronounced  deleterious 
and  actually  poisonous  effect.  Here  again  has  "Mor- 
monism,"  as  a  living  teacher,  led  the  way  to  the  paths 
of  a  better  life,  not  for  the  hereafter  alone,  but  for  this 
world. 

The  most  potent  of  all  forces  operating  to  main- 
tain the  vitality  of  "Mormonism"  is  found  in  the  Di- 
vine source  of  its  powers  and  authority.  It  teaches 
the  actuality  of  present  day  revelation  as  the  needs  of 
the  Church  require.  The  system  lives  and  shall  never 
die  because  it  is  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  eternal  life. 
Men  cannot  destroy  the  Divine;  the  mortal  is  impo- 
tent in  assault  upon  the  immortal;  the  finite  is  power- 
less to  prevail  against  the  infinite. 

3.     Some  of  the  Practical  Results. 

Had  "Mormonism"  died  in  its  infancy  the  splendid 
results  of  its  effects  upon  mankind  would  be  unknown 
even  as  history.  To  the  vitality  of  the  system,  to  its 
inherent  virility,  is  due  the  development  at  which  to- 
day the  world  marvels.  Among  the  practical  results 
of  "Mormonism"  are  the  following. 

(A)  A  system  of  church  organization  unknown, 
since    the    disintegration    of    the    Primitive    Church 
through  apostasy.       This  organization  comprises  all 
the  essential  offices  and  officers  of  the  olden  Church — - 
apostles,     high    priests,     seventies,     elders,    bishops, 
priests,  teachers,  deacons.     The  religion  of  "Mormon- 
ism"  is  practical,  dealing  with  the  spiritual  it  is  true, 
but  also  in  a  prominent  degree  with  the  essentials  of 
every  day  life. 

(B)  An  effective  missionary  system,  by  which 
the  Gospel  message    is    proclaimed    throughout    the 
world,  and  that  message  of  salvation  is  delivered  with- 
out money  or  price.     Elders  and  missionary  women 


22  THE  VITALITY  OF  ^MORMONISM" 

are  sent  out  into  the  several  fields,  bearing  their  own 
expenses  except  so  far  as  they  may  receive  assistance 
through  the  generosity  of  the  people  amongst  whom 
they  labori 

(C)  A  coherent  and  mutually  helpful  body,  in 
which  the  ties  and  prejudices  of  diverse  nationality  and 
of  varied  tradition  are  swallowed  up  in  the  common 
love  for  the  Gospel  and  in  the  individual  testimony  of 
its  genuineness.  When  one  of  the  early  presiding 
officers  of  the  Church  was  asked  by  an  earnest  inves- 
tigator wherein  lay  the  secret  of  the  marvelous  influ- 
ence by  which  so  great  an  aggregation  of  foreign  and 
otherwise  diverse  people  were  governed,  the  answer 
was :  "We  teach  them  correct  principles  and  they 
govern  themselves." 

This  effect  of  the  Gospel  is  apparent  in  the  happi- 
ness and  satisfaction  manifest  among  those  who  have 
become  members  of  the  Church  after  real  repentance. 
Apostasy  from  the  Church  is  a  rare  phenomenon. 
Even  excommunication  for  failure  to  live  aright  is 
more  common;  and,  be  it  known,  that  the  Lord's  reve- 
lations to  the  Church  provide  that  transgression,  if  not 
followed  by  sincere  contrition  and  earnest  effort  to 
make  amends,  is  to  be  visited  by  disfellowshipment 

Every  Latter-day  Saint  is  expected  to  be  true  to 
the  sanctity  of  his  individual  testimony.  He  is  di- 
rectly answerable  to  his  God.  As  to  his  conviction 
that  the  Gospel  taught  by  the  Church  is  genuine,  he 
is  held  to  have  undergone  the  test  prescribed  by  the 
Christ — that  of  doing  the  will  of  God  and  thus  learn- 
ing for  himself  that  the  doctrine  is  true.  The  peace 
and  satisfaction  evinced  by  converts  to  "Mormonism" 
well  nigh  surpasses  human  belief. 

(D)  A  self-supporting  organization,  not  depend- 
ent upon  the  gifts  of  a  wealthy  few,  but  upon  the  pro- 
portionate giving  of  all.  In  the  material  support  of 


THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM"  23 

the  Church  as  a  human  institution  the  widow's  penny 
is  as  acceptable  as  are  the  goldpieces  of  the  million- 
aire. The  system  of  tithepaying  has  been  a  success  in 
the  Church  from  the  first.  Every  member  should 
consider  it  a  duty  to  pay  a  tenth  of  his  income,  whether 
that  tenth  for  any  given  period  be  a  dime  or  a  thous- 
and dollars ;  but  no  payment  is  arbitrarily  exacted,  for 
compliance  with  the  law  of  the  tithe,  to  be  acceptable 
before  God,  must  be  voluntary  and  willing.  The  peo- 
ple are  taught  that  while  the  Lord  needs  their  tithes 
and  offerings,  their  need  to  be  tithed  is  many  times 
greater.  Besides  the  tithing  other  free-will  offerings 
are  made.  On  the  monthly  fast  day  each  family  is 
asked  to  contribute  the  cost-equivalent  of  the  meals 
from  which  the  members  have  fasted;  and  the  means 
so  obtained  is  administered  by  the  bishops  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  deserving  poor.  Special  offerings  are  called 
for  and  willingly  given  as  occasion  requires.  A  recent 
request  for  aid  to  the  war  sufferers  resulted  in  the 
voluntary  and  eager  giving  of  over  $30,000  in  a  single 
day;  and  this  amount  was  forwarded  and  distributed 
without  diminution  for  commission  or  other  adminis- 
trative expense,  the  Church  organization  proving 
ample  for  the  purpose. 

(E)  A  series  of  auxiliary  associations  which 
operate  as  helps  in  government.  These  include  the 
Relief  Society,  the  Sunday  School  Union,  the  Young 
Men's  and  the  Young  Ladies'  Mutual  Improvement 
Associations,  the  Primary  Association,  and  the  Re- 
ligion Classes.  The  purpose  of  these  is  in  general 
indicated  by  the  names.  Church  schools  are  main- 
tained for  such  members  as  prefer  denominational  to 
secular  education ;  and  these  institutions  range  from 
the  kindergarten  to  the  normal  school  and  the  college. 
We  believe  that  true  education  comprises  the  develop- 
ment of  body,  mind,  and  spirit ;  and  facilities  for  this 


24  THE  VITALITY  OF  "MORMONISM" 

symmetrical  training  are  provided.  To  "Mormon" 
pupils  in  the  public  schools  of  both  common  and  sec- 
ondary grades  instruction  in  religion  and  ethics  is 
given  through  the  Religion  Classes,  which  are  con- 
ducted outside  the  regular  school  hours  and  as  a  sup- 
plement to  the  secular  curriculum.  This  instructional 
feature,  now  advocated  by  eminent  educators  for  all 
public  schools,  has  been  in  successful  operation  among 
the  Latter-day  Saints  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
(F)  A  community  whose  vital  statistics  tell  of 
prolonged  life,  high  birth  and  low  death  rates,  high 
marriage  rate,  few  divorces,  and  general  material  pros- 
perity. I  present  to  you  a  few  comparisons  of  data 
obtained  from  the  Presiding  Bishopric  of  the  Church, 
showing  the  condition  of  Latter-day  Saints  in  the  or- 
ganized stakes  of  Zion,  for  the  six-year  period  ending 
with  the  year  1915,  as  contrasted  with  the  latest  re- 
ports for  such  States  of  the  Union  as  maintain  statis- 
tical bureaus  and  are  classed  in  official  reports  as  the 
registration  area. 

Among  the  Latter-day  In  the  country 

Saints  resident  in  at  large  so  far 

the  Stakes.  as  reported. 

Birth  rate  per  1,000 39  25 

Death  rate  per  1,000 8.7  14.1 

Marriage  rate  per  1,000.  .16  13 

Divorces  per  10,000  ....     4  10 

Average  age  at  death.  . ...  38  32 

The  statistics  of  infant  mortality  are  strikingly 
significant.  Deaths  from  all  causes  among  children 
under  one  year  of  age  averaged  for  the  three  years 
ending  with  1915  fewer  than  59  per  thousand  births  in 
"Mormon"  families,  while  the  latest  report  from  the 
United  States  registration  area  shows  249  deaths  per 
thousand.  Deaths  of  chiMren  under  five  years  of  age, 


THE  VITALITY  OF      MORMONISM 


25 


including  those  who  die  under  one  year,  separately  re- 
ported, average  82  per  thousand  births  among  "Mor- 
mons" and  349  for  the  country  at  large. 

A  letter  from  the  Presiding  Bishopric  to  the  au- 
thor, accompanying  the  statistical  report  from  which 
the  foregoing  items  have  been  culled,  contains  the  fol- 
lowing statement :  "A  detailed  record  is  kept  of  all 
the  causes  of  death  among  Latter-day  Saints  in  the 
intermountain  region.  This  is  carefully  supervised  by 
local  officers  and  compiled,  and  we  think  it  is  even 
more  accurate  than  are  the  average  statistics  of  the 
best  regulated  States  of  the  Union.  Details  concern- 
ing any  group  of  causes  of  death  under  the  interna- 
tional classification  are  on  file  subject  to  examination 
by  any  who  may  be  interested." 

One  of  the  certified  causes  of  death  in  which 
'Mormons"  lead  the  country  is  old  age.  In  Latter- 
day  Saint  communities  the  families  owning  their  own 
homes  constitute  75  per  cent  of  the  whole  number  of 
families.  Think  what  this  means — the  absence  of 
rent-collector  or  landlord,  whose  shadow  too  often 
converts  the  home  into  a  dreary  house. 


Yes,  "Mormonism"  is  alive.  The  world  is  better 
for  its  presence.  It  extends  to  all  peoples  the  invita- 
tion to  come,  to  drink  at  its  fountains,  to  partake  of 
its  fruits,  and  to  rejoice  in  the  countless  blessings 
offered  by  the  restored  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord. 


af  Faitti 


OF  TH«  CHURCH  or  JESUS  CHRIST  or  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 


1.  WE  believe  in  God,  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in  His 
Son,  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

2.  WE  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their  own 
oins,  and  not  for  Adam's  transgression. 

3.  WE  believe  that,  through  the  atonement  of  Christ, 
all  mankind  may  be  saved,  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and 
ordinances  of  the -Gospel. 

4.  WE  believe  that  the  flrst  principles  and  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel  are:  First,  Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
second,  Repentance;  third,  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the 
remission  of  sins;  fourth,  Laying  on  of  Hands  for  the  Gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

5.  Ws  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God,  by 
"prophecy,  and  by  the  laying  on  of  bauds,"  by  those  who 
are  in  authority,  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer  in  the 
ordinances  thereof. 

6.  WE  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed  in 
the  primitive  church,  namely,  apostles,  prophets,  pastors, 
teachers,  evangelists,  etc. 

7.  WE  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy,  revela- 
tion, visions,  healing,  interpretation  of  tongues,  etc 

8.  WE  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God,  as  far 
as  it  is  translated  correctly;  we  also  believe  the  Book  of 
Mormon  to  be  the  word  of  God. 

9.  WE  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  He 
does  now  reveal,  and  we  believe  that  He  will  yet  reveal 
many  great  and  important  things  pertaining  to  the  Kingdom 
of  God. 

10.  WK  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel  and  in 
the  restoration  of  the  Ten  Tribes.    That  Zion  will  be  built 
upon  this  continent.      That  Christ  will  reign  personally 
upon  the  earth,  and  that  the  earth  will  be  renewed  and 
receive  its  paradisical  glory. 

11.  WE  claim   the   privilege   of    worshiping    Almighty 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  our  own  conscience,  and 
allow  all  men  the  same  'privilege,  let  them  worship  how, 
where  cr  what  they  may. 

12.  WE  believe  iu  being  subject  to   kings,  presidents, 
rulers  and  magistrates,  in  obeying,  honoring  and  sustaining 
the  law. 

13.  WE  believe  in  being  honest,  true, chaste,  benevolent, 
virtuous,  and  in  doing  good  to  ALL  MEN;  indeed  we  may  say 
that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul,     "We  believe  all 
things,  we  hope  all  things,"  we  have  endured  many  things, 
and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure  all  things.    If  there  is  any- 
thing virtuous,  lovely,  or  of  good  report  or  praiseworthy 

we  seek  after  these  things.— JOSEPH  SMITH. 


